How to Transfer Files from iPhone to Flash Drive: 4 Ways

The iPhone has earned widespread popularity for its intuitive functionality and sleek design. Over time, your device likely accumulates critical files—photos, videos, music, documents, and more. Backing up these files or freeing up storage space becomes essential, and transferring them to a flash drive is an efficient strategy.

If you have compatible hardware like a Lightning-to-USB adapter or USB-C cable, you can connect the flash drive directly to your iPhone for file transfers. If you prefer using a computer, tools like FoneTool, iTunes, or Image Capture streamline the process.

1. How to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive without computer

Can you connect a USB stick to an iPhone? The answer is Yes! If you don’t want to rely on any software and computer to export iPhone files, you can use a Lightning to USB adapter or a USB-C cable to connect your iPhone to the flash drive.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone directly to an external hard drive with a Lightning to USB adapter or a cable > Go to the Files app on iPhone > Check whether your USB drive is connected successfully.

Step 2. Find the files you need like photos, videos, music, PDF, etc. > Tap and hold on them, and choose Copy.

Step 3. Go back to the main interface of the Files app > Select your USB flash drive as the storage location, tap and hold anywhere blank, and choose Paste to finish the process.

2. How to transfer files from iPhone to USB flash drive [Best]

If you need a way to transfer a large number of files from iPhone to flash drive, trying a wired way on a Windows PC might be more useful. Then a professional iPhone data transfer software named FoneTool will help you a lot.

Now you can follow the guidance below to transfer photos, videos, songs, etc. from iPhone to flash drive.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone and flash drive to your Windows PC via USB cables. Launch FoneTool > Go to Phone Transfer > iPhone to PC > Click Get Started.

Step 2. Choose the files you need under the corresponding tab and click OK.

Step 3. Choose your flash drive as the destination from the Transfer Settings to save them > Click Start Transfer to begin.

3. How to transfer files to SanDisk flash drive from iPhone - File Explorer

If you don’t want to rely on any third-party software and need to finish the process from Windows PC, you can use the built-in File Explorer to transfer photos/videos from iPhone to flash drive.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone and USB flash drive to the Windows PC. Click Trust on iPhone to let your computer to access your photos/videos on iPhone.

Step 2. Go to Computer or This PC, and you see a new device named xxx iPhone.

Step 3. Double-click the iPhone and go to Internal Storage > Choose DCIM folder, then browse your photos or videos here > Copy and Paste the specific items you need to transfer to flash drive.

4. How to copy files from iPhone to flash drive using Mac

For Mac users, using the built-in Image Capture software to add iPhone photos/videos to a flash drive like OTG falsh drive is available.

Step 1. Connect your iPhone and flash drive to the Mac at the same time. Go to Image Capture on your Mac.  

Step 2. From the left side of the interface, click your iPhone under the Device section. Go to the Import To pop-up menu and select photos/videos you need to save them to your flash drive.

Step 3. You can choose Import All to transfer all the items you need or click Import to select specific images to transfer.

Conclusion

For people who wonder about how to transfer files from iPhone to flash drive, this passage gives you full instructions. You can rely on a Lightning to USB adapter or a USB-C cable to directly connect the flash drive to your iPhone. Or use FoneTool, iTunes on Windows or Image Capture software on Mac to make it in simple clicks.

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